The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, is one of Taiwan’s most celebrated holidays. Held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, this festival brings families together to appreciate the full moon and share mooncakes. These delicacies come in a variety of flavors and textures, and they are best enjoyed with Taiwanese Oolong Tea, which enhances the experience of savoring these treats.
Traditional Mooncakes: A Taste of Tradition
A Cantonese-style mooncake
Traditional mooncakes, often referred to as Cantonese-style, are known for their dense, golden-brown crusts filled with sweet or savory fillings. Common choices include lotus seed paste, red bean paste, and salted egg yolks, symbolizing the full moon. These heavy, rich cakes are typically sliced and served with Oolong Tea to balance the sweetness of the lotus or red bean paste and richness of the egg yolk.
Su-Style Mooncakes: Flaky and Light
Mooncakes are popular in Taiwan. They pair well with tea.
A favorite in Taiwan, Su-style (Suzhou-style) mooncakes feature a flaky, layered pastry crust. These mooncakes are often filled with red bean paste or savory minced pork. Lighter and less sweet than traditional mooncakes, they pair well with green tea. The delicate, fragrant quality of green tea complements the sweet/savory fillings, and the light flaky pastry.
Snow Skin Mooncakes: A Modern Variation
Snow skin mooncakes, a popular import from Hong Kong, have gained popularity in Taiwan for their unique appearance and texture. Made from glutinous rice flour, these mooncakes are chilled, giving them a soft, mochi-like exterior. Fillings range from sweet custard to fruity flavors like mango, as well as matcha. Their refreshing, chewy texture makes them an ideal match for cold-brewed oolong tea, which highlights the sweetness and coolness of the dessert.
Yolk Puff Mooncakes: A Taiwanese Favorite
Salted egg yolk is a common filling inside mooncakes
Yolk puff mooncakes, or "dan huang su," (蛋黃酥) are a beloved Taiwanese variation. They feature a flaky, layered crust with a sweet filling like taro, red bean, or mung bean paste, along with a salted egg yolk center. These mooncakes have a perfect blend of sweet and salty flavors that pair beautifully with Taiwanese Oolong Tea.
Modern Flavors: Creative Innovations
Taiwanese bakeries are also known for their creative twists on mooncakes, offering flavors like chocolate, matcha, and durian. These modern mooncakes are often paired with floral teas, such as Jasmine or Gardenia Oolong Tea, allowing for a dynamic interplay of flavors.
Tea and Mooncakes: A Perfect Pairing
Enjoy your mooncakes with some Oolong Tea!
As you enjoy the variety of mooncakes Taiwan has to offer, don’t forget to pair them with a freshly brewed cup of Oolong Tea. The careful craftsmanship behind both mooncakes and Taiwanese tea makes them a perfect match, offering a delightful balance of flavors that are meant to be savored slowly, just like the moments shared with loved ones during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
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